Growing Hope has partnered in the development of over 40 community & school gardens throughout Washtenaw County and we are excited to help start even more! Every garden looks different, and we like to categorize them into different types-- based on their primary goals or functions. Many gardens fall into more than one of these categories:

Neighborhood gardens: Often what people think of as a "traditional" community garden, neighbors often rent or adopt plots-- sometimes for a fee-- most often to grow healthy fruits & veggies.

Learning gardens: When a garden's primary goal is education, whether in a school setting, to encourage intergenerational learning, or to share job skills.

Sharing gardens: While all of our partner gardens that grow veggies/fruits participate in Plant A Row for the Hungry, some gardens' primary purpose is growing food for donation to neighbors in need. Whether to donate to Food Gatherers or distributing directly to neighbors, sharing the harvest helps to increase our community's food security.

Market gardens: When we connect gardening with entrepreneurship-- whether to sell our harvests at farmers' markets, or turn them into a value-added product (think salsa from tomatoes), we become market gardeners. What better than local, green, garden-based business that also feed and beautify our communities?

Healing gardens: Also called horticultural therapy, this type of garden is intent on healing mind and body.

Listed below are some of our partner gardens that have plots available in Ann Arbor or Ypsilanti. These plots offer a great opportunity to get to know your neighbors, learn more about gardening and have access to space for growing that you might not have otherwise. Each garden is set up different, please email the garden steward listed under each community garden for more information. Be sure to sign up soon, community garden plots fill up quickly!

Growing Hope Center Community Garden

Located 922 W. Michigan in Ypsilanti, MI. The Growing Hope Center is the future demonstration site for Growing Hope! There are now plots available with preference given to low-income families and individuals. This is a neighborhood garden that uses a plot-rental style. For more information please contact Ashley at (734) 786-8401 or ashley@growinghope.org.

Midtown Community Garden

Located on the corner of Congress St. and Normal St. in Ypsilanti, MI. Midtown is a neighborhood garden that uses a plot-rental style. Check out the guidelines and if interested fill out the application. The Midtown Garden Steward is Natalie Holbrook, contact her at (734) 761-8283 ext. 5, or nholbrook@afsc.org.

West Middle School Community Garden

Located at 105 N. Mansfield St. in Ypsilanti. This partner garden is a neighborhood garden that uses a plot-rental style. Check out the guidelines and if interested fill out the application. The Garden Steward is Lesley Chace, contact her at (734) 480-1005 or lesley@ypsisoaplady.com.

Recreation Park Community Garden

This garden is located behind the Senior Center in Ypsilanti on Congress Rd. It is a Neighborhood Garden that rents out plots, check out the guidelines and application. The garden steward is Lisa Bashert, contact her at (734) 483-6420 or wombbat@umich.edu.

Frog Island Community Garden

This garden is a work of art, having been built in 2007 using many creative and reclaimed materials. The Garden Steward is Amanda, contact her at amandarb7@hotmail.com.

Chidester Place Community Garden

Residents at Chidester Place, on the southside of Ypsi near the UAW & Visteon plant, have been gardening in the ground and raised beds (including wheelchair accessible beds)for five years. The garden has both shared area and individual plots. Contact us and we'll connect you with their leadership team.

Habitat for Humanity Homeowners Garden

Off of West Michigan Ave near Mansfield in Ypsi, this garden is open to new leadership this year. The past garden steward is still figuring out if all of the garden will be available this year. Contact us if you'd like to learn more.

Gateway Community Garden

Located on West Michigan Ave in Ypsilanti. This neighborhood garden is part of Edible Avalon, a really cool project that provides food to its residents. Contact us at Growing Hope and we'll connect you with Kristi, the lead organizer.

You can see a map of most of the garden sites here.